Morehead State University - Raconteur Yearbook (Morehead, KY)

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Music fills the Air Country music star Lee Greenwood performed for an enthusiastic crowd of about 2,200 on October 14 at the Aca- demiC-Athletic Center. Opening for Greenwood was Sandy Hook native Keith Whitley, who recent- ly made it big on the charts with the single iiMiami, My Amy? A zealous crowd packed the AAC. iiCollege students are an aggressive au- dience. They are really in tune with live entertainment, Greenwood comment- ed prior to the concert. Greenwood hails from California, where his parents were country andjazz performers. His main influences, Stan Kenton, Bobby Darin, and Sam Cook, were evident in the jazzy tenor sax solos he played. Greenwood performed several hits from his new album, entitled IfThereis Any Justice? The title describes the feeling of the album, he said. II wanted to make a statement about my career. Iim just starting to get accepted after 30 years in the business. His acceptance from the country mu- sic community was a surprise to Green- wood, however, because of his strong popular rhythm and blues background. iiI dont have the typical twang usual- ly associated with country music, Greenwood said. That, along with the fact that students with valid I.D.is were admitted free, may account for the wide range of fans present at the concert. TI prefer to play colleges because they are the thinking communityf said Events 192 Greenwood. iiThey are excited, and not jaded about life and music? Greenwood found time to shoot some baskets upon arriving at the AAC, and even stayed after to open the Midnight Madness celebration, which was the first official practice of the menis and womenis basketball teams. iiI like to rest and get used to the envi- ronment with my crew and the band, he said. iiAt times I have to rush in and perform right away, but I prefer to have time to look around? Country music newcomer Keith Whitley rolled in shortly before the concert and was greeted by many ex- cited fans from his hometown. II had lots of support from my family and friends tonightfi Whitley said after performing. iiIt feels really good to be back in the area. I used to come here when I was a kid to cruise the campus and check out the pretty college girls. This really is a homecoming for me! he joked. Whitley defines his music as being more traditionally country than Greenwoodis. iiLee does contempo- rary country, while Iim more traditionalfi com- mented the singer, whose main influences are George Jones, Merle Haggard and Lefty Frizzell. iiWe are a good mixture. Whitley described REO Speedwagon played several songs the crowd knew by heart. Bassist Neil Doughty said really young people show up with parents because the music fits every generation. PHOTO BY'JeffS. Col- quhpun Greenwood as a great entertainer and a really nice guy. Whitleyis fans clapped, shouted and even clogged in time to his music, which included the favorites Miami, My Amy and Homecoming 63. Both performers played with a great deal of enthusiasm. The highlight of the show was the grand finale, which was Creenwoodis stirring rendition of God Bless the USA during which a giant flag was unraveled above the stage. Practi- cally everyone was on his or her feet during the song. The futures of both performers look bright. A new album is in the works for Whitley, and Greenwood is working on the theme for a new television show, on which he will make several guest ap- pearances. R.E.O. Speedwagon Concert R.E.O. Speedwagon rocked over 5,100 fans on November 20 at the AAC. Richard Marx opened the show and had an enthusiastic crowd on their feet Q Surprised that he is considered a country music star, Greenwood said he has a rhythm and blues background. Greenwood performed in front of 2,200 for the Homecoming concert. PHOTO BY: Kevin L. Goldy

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elm ,tnauzuratign Ceremony ,, Together We Can On November 6, Morehead rolled out the red carpet for a Praise for Grote ran freely at the inauguration ceremonies. bevy of dignitaries: including three former governors and the As the inaugural procession was walking across the street present governor, Martha Layne Collins. What was the occa- tfrom ADUC t0 Buttonl, I thought of our selection for presi- sion? In the words of Governor Collins, iito welcome back a dent and felt very comfortable about our choice, said Ed- favorite son of Morehead State, Dr. C. Nelson Crote. ward Breathitt, vice chair of the Board of Regents and former Crote, ex-dean of Applied Science and Technology, re- Kentucky governor. uI think the eagle at Morehead will soar turned to Morehead, after an absence of 16 years, to become as it never has before? the eleventh president in the schools history. Before coming Governor Collins added to the accolade, iiDr. Groteis al- back to Morehead, Grote was the president of Schoolcraft ready doing an excellent job with an outstanding team. More- College in Michigan and the chief executive ocher of the head State University is on sound leading in an area of prog- Spokane Community College system in Washington State. ress with a new sense of pride? Dr. Glenn Terrell, president emeritus of Washington State Univer- sity and inaugural keynote speaker, also added to Grote,s fanfare. He stat- ed that Morehead is indeed lucky to have Dr. Crote. He compared Groteis selection to a Christians rebirth and new life? but affecting in his case an institution rather than an individual. Grote painted a bright picture for Morehead in his speech: It is my in- tention to give the balance of my pro- fessional life, hopefully my most pro- ductive years, to this university. It is my dream to make Morehead State University a great place to work and learn. Grote also stated that he had a vi- sion for Morehead that included: sen- sitivity and responsiveness to its ser- vice region, administrative and aca- demic integrity, instilling pride in all members of the University communi- ty and to be recognized as the Uni- versity that cares. Nunn, along with Collins, Breathitt and Len- ona Schaffer, Grote's first, second and third grade teacher, presented Grote with his presi- dential medallion, which is a symbol of the pow- ers and responsibilities invested in the oHice of the president. President Grote will serve a two-year term and will then come before the Board of Regents for renewal of this contract. . - By: Steven B. Kouns Also see story on The President on pg. 58-59. Three former governors and the present governor Martha Layne Collins attended the inaugural ceremony. John Col- lins, director of the university bookstore, helped Gov. Col- lins with her cap and gown to be sure of the correct size. PHOTO BY: Kevin L. Goldy 191

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5,100fans rocked with REO Speedwagon during the November 20th concert. Lead singer Kevin Cronin said he preferred play- ing the newer songs but the concert was filled with both. PHOTO BY: jej?r S. Colquhoun An enthusiastic crowd greeted Richard Marx when he opened for REO Speedwagon. He performed two ofhis hit songs uDonit Mean Nothin, and iiShould Have Known Better. PHOTO BY: throughout the concert. This year Marx made it big on the charts with his hits Shouldive Known Better and Donit Mean Nothini. Marx presented cuts from his latest album as well as songs originally done by other artists. Some of these were El- vis Presleyis Little Sister and Stay With Me by Rod Stewart. Marx and his band were together all the way with a tight sound and electric stage presence. An interesting point was brought up when Marx introduced his guitarist, John Wamsley, as the actor who played Jason on The Waltons. iiDoes this guy look familiar to you? he asked, pinching Wamsleyis cheeks. F rom his new album Marx performed iiHave Mercy which he called his fa- vorite song, featuring a familiar guitar lick form Derek and the Dominoes, uLayla . He also gave fans a taste of his next album with a tune he had just writ- ten called iiLiving in the River. Marxis good looks, lively sound and incredible band combined to make an excellent opener for the feature attrac- tion. After a short intermission R.E.O. opened with their recent smash iiThat Ain,t Lovef, Well received by everyone in the audience, they showed fans how bands can last through a lot of years and still come out on top. After playing titles from their new al- bum, called Life As We Know It, the group strolled down rock and rolls memory lane with such classics as Take It On The Run and Keep On Loving You. Lead singer Kevin Cronin remarked after the show that although revamping oldies was fun he preferred to play new songs. He also commented about performing in this area. iiWe like playing smaller cities because the people really seem to appreciate our show. Incidentally, Mor- ehead has more pretty women than any other place Iive beenll, Morehead seemed to enjoy R.E.O. as well. The band played sixteen songs which most people in the crowd knew Kevin L. Goldy by heart. Their regular show finished with Ridini the Storm Out, but the audi- ence demanded more. The band com- plied with encores like Dont Let Him Go, Keep On Loving You and Time For Me To Fly. When asked the secret to their stay- ing power, bassist Neil Doughty said, uMany people in our audiences are real- ly young and some show up with par- ents, who are also fans. Our music isn,t dated; it fits in with each new genera- tion of fans. Lead guitarist Gary Richrath added, iiWeire all good friends. Weid have to be to stay together for 18 years. The band will still be rocking concert goers for 18 more years if the energetic performance they gave at the AAC is an indication. a By: Karen Craigo and Michelle Compton Concerts 193